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What Can I Do When My Life Isn’t Improving in Recovery?

Recovery from addiction has its ups and downs—two steps forward and one step backwards. It is natural not to feel immediate results from your abstinence. It is also natural to become discouraged at times. The key to getting through these moments and days is to be present with your feelings.

Even when we get sober, we may bump along the bottom for a while. Putting down the drink or substance is a great start to improving our lives. We also need to make a concerted effort to find out why we got addicted, and how to change our behaviors that might have, and still may exacerbate our problems.

When we feel our life isn’t improving we need to ask if we are following the suggestions of a drug and alcohol counselor? Are we depressed, and therefore everything in our lives looks grim? We can improve our lives by having the courage to face ourselves in the mirror, like the Gal in the Glass.

In recovery we may not think our life is improving, but it really is, we just can’t see it. We can be in a fog, stressed by daily struggles with income, family, or a disagreeable and demanding boss. Our incremental changes comes with hard work. Acknowledge everyday you are sober as proof that your life is indeed improving!

The Gal in the Glass—“When you get what you want in your struggle for self, and the world makes you queen for a day, just go to a mirror and look at yourself, and see what that Gal has to say: for it isn’t your husband or family or friend – whose judgement upon you must pass. The gal whose verdict counts most in your life is the one staring back from the glass. Some people may think you a straight shooting chum and call you a person of place, but the Gal in the glass says you’re only a bum if you can’t look her straight in the face. She’s the one to please – never mind all the rest, for she’s with you clear up to the end. Any you’ve passed your most dangerous, difficult test, if the Gal in the glass is your friend. You can fool the whole world down the pathway of years, and get pats on your back as you pass, but your final reward – will be heartaches and tears, if you’ve cheated the Gal in the Glass.” Anonymous

Serenity Oaks Wellness Center is a 5-week extensive treatment program to help someone who is struggling from drugs or alcohol. Our 12-Step aspects and holistic therapy combined can show you how to adorn your soul in recovery.